Barcelona’s public holidays (or: bad days for shopping)
1 January: New Year’s Day
6 January: The Epiphany
10 April (2020): Good Friday 13 April (2020):
Easter Monday
1 May: Labour Day
1 June (2020): Whit Monday 24 June: Sant Joan
15 August: Assumption Day 11 September: National Day of Catalonia
24 September: La Mercè
12 October:
National Day of Spain
1 November: All Saints Day
6 December: Constitution Day 8 December: Day of the Immaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas Day 26 December: Boxing Day
spectacularly decorated streets. All year long, each street’s committee creates brilliant decorations to spruce up the roads with, hoping to win the title of Best Decorated Street.
DIADA NACIONAL DE CATALUNYA
11 September
On 11 September 1714, Catalonia lost the war to Spain. They remember this day every year by celebrating it as their national holiday. Besides fireworks and concerts, the main event is the humongous independentist protest in the heart of the city. In 2014, a record 1.8 million people waved their banners at this peaceful protest. It always kicks off at exactly 5.14pm (or 17.14, the year of the Catalan defeat).
LA MERCÈ
18 - 24 September (2020)
On top of each district’s proper Festa Major, the city of Barcelona also hosts a big one at the end of summer. Correfocs, concerts at the beach, light festivals and markets entertain all demographics while awaiting the big magnum opus: the piromusical, or musical fireworks on the final night.
LA CASTANYADA
1 November
La Castanyada is a festival for the hungry, as all there is to do is eat and drink. Traditionally, the dessert of the Castanyada dinners consists of roasted chestnuts, panellets (almond balls covered in pine nuts), moniatos (roasted sweet potatoes) and candied fruit. To help you digest it all, they serve a fine glass of Moscatell (Muscat) on the side. Salut!
FIRA DE SANTA LLÚCIA
30 November - 23 December Although Barcelona is not a Christmas city per se, there are many fun things to do when the holidays kick in. At Plaça Nova, in front of the cathedral, you can shop at the Fira de Santa Llúcia. This Christmas market does not sell your average mulled wine and raclette, but offers the most beautiful pesebres: statues for your nativity scene.